ITV

Tag: DTH

  • Scat gets a more focussed response

    Scat gets a more focussed response

    MUMBAI: Scat India 2006, which positions itself as being India’s largest exhibition for the Indian satellite and cable TV industry concludes today 14 October 2006 at the World Trade Center.

    Scat Media and Consultancy executive director Dinyar Contractor says that the biggest improvement this year has been more focus. “Exhibitors appreciate the fact that there was a clear focus on cable television.

    Earlier we had other focus areas as well but this time around there was a clear focus on the digital arena. The feedback we received from the exhibitors was that the trade visitors were well informed and clued in.

    “They have done their homework which indicates that the digital arena is coming off age in India. One firm from Europe says that the questions that he has been asked about his products have been more knowledgeable and intelligent compared with some other tradeshows.

    While earlier people would ask about what a product does now they ask whether a product has a certain feature. Visitors were hapy that weer big international names at the event.”

    Scat is now in its 15th year. Zee Telefilms chairman Subhash Chandra inaugurated the exhibition. By the time the event concludes it would have had around 12,000 attendees. There are 80 stalls and Contractor adds that at least 30 per cent of the exhibitors have confirmed that they will return next year. Some of them have booked bigger stalls.

    The firms that took part included 2nd Wave Technology, Aditya Broadband, AlJazeera International, Beijing Swt Optical Comm. Catvision, Conax Systems, D-Link, Kieth Electronics, Micronas, Motorola, Finolex Fitel, Fujikura, Scientific Atlanta and Shenzhen Coship

    A key product that the trade fraternity focussed on was digital headends. These will be needed for the deployment of conditional access (Cas) on 1 January 2007 in certain areas of Mumbai and Delhi. Normally headends are expensive. However at Scat Chinese vendors will display headends that are at a cost effective and competitive rate.

    It was not just operators in areas where Cas will be rolled out in January 2007 that are interested. Contractor adds that even operators in small towns are interested. Though it is a bit expensive they know that once Cas comes in the problems between them and the broadcasters over under declaration will not exist. Hence they are willing to invest. The mood of the trade fraternity at Scat he says is confident that Cas will be rolled out smoothly.

    Some operators are mentally gearing uop for Cas though it has yet to be mandated for their areas he adds. Therefore the interest in digital equipment is not surprising.

    Other technology products that were on display include DVB-S and DTH Products, DTT, DVB-S and DVB-c test and measurement equipment, Fibre Optic products from global firms were also be on display.

  • Nimbus pegs 2-channel package price at Rs 58

    Nimbus pegs 2-channel package price at Rs 58

    MUMBAI: With the Conditional Access System (CAS) controversy continuing unabated at the broadcasters’ level, Nimbus Sports Broadcast has quoted a premium price for two of its channels at Rs 58 to the sector regulator.

    The newly launched Neo Sports, which debuted on 1 October in some parts of the country, is likely to turn pay ahead of the January 2007 cricket series. This company has priced this channel at Rs 40.

    Even, the yet-to be launched Neo Sports Plus holds a price tag of Rs 40. The company has specified a bundled price of Rs 58 for the two channels.

    The proposed prices are yet to be accepted by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai), which in the normal course takes about one month to issue procedural clearance. Interestingly, rival sports channels ESPN and Star Sports are priced at Rs 38 per subscriber for the two-channel bundle.

    The rates at which the two Neo Sports have been pegged are in line with what Nimbus Communications chairman Harish Thawani had told indiantelevision.com in a recent interview: “We are looking to charge a premium price. Broadcasters so far have not had the guts to charge the price that they feel reflects the true value of their product. What I can confirm is that our pricing will be considerably higher than ESPN Star Sports.”

    TDSAT had earlier directed that the rates of the channels available on the direct to home platform (DTH) will cost half the price of what is charged to cable platforms (exclusive of taxes).

    This benchmark judgment was issued with respect to Dish TV vs Star India, wherein the two were haggling over price. The reason for the verdict was attributed to DTH being an addressable system where loss of revenue down the value chain is negligible if not zero.

    The distribution rights for all Nimbus’ sports channels are held by Rupert Murdoch’s Star India and run till 2010. The Star-Nimbus distribution deal will apply to the two sports channels that will be launching by the end of the year as well as any future sports channels from the Neo Sports stable (a sports news channel is also in the pipeline scheduled for debut in the second half of 2007).

    Although Nimbus has proposed the prices of its channels to Trai, it has already created doubts in the minds of the various stakeholders, whether this would be easily accepted by the regulator and if yes, whether it will go down well with the industry.

    Under the CAS notified areas, the two Nimbus channels will be charged as per the ceiling price fixed by Trai.

  • Catvision undergoes restructuring

    Catvision undergoes restructuring

    MUMBAI: Catvision, a provider of cable TV and broadband networking products and services to the cable television and hospitality industry, has initiated a restructuring of its operations into two main divisions: cable television equipment (CATV) and interactive television systems (ITV).

    The two businesses of the company, namely sales of cable television equipment and sales of interactive television systems, are expected to grow with the implementation of the conditional access system (CAS). The CATV division develops manufactures and markets networking equipment used in cable television system wherein the major client base is cable operators.

    In the cable television sphere, the competition from direct-to-home (DTH) is expected to trigger digitalization of cable networks in India. It is expected to provide a huge hardware opportunity since this would require large scale upgradation of all existing networks. This in turn would provide a business opportunity for the company.

    According to a media market analyst, “In case the cable distribution business becomes more organised with the implementation of CAS, the fortunes of the company will turn.” DTH itself is set to create a massive market for dishes, set top boxes and IF distribution system (for multi-dwelling units), all markets the company can address.

    The government’s intention to implement of CAS in Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata by 1 January 2007 and also the aggressive launch of DTH services by Dish TV and Tata-Sky, has for the first time provided a serious competitive threat to cable operators. These developments are likely to transform the cable television landscape. The only way forward for cable operators is to digitalize their networks and professionalise their services. Only then they will be in a position to compete with DTH, avers the analyst.

    In the US, cable still maintains 80 per cent of the market share. If digitization were to happen – and there is every reason to believe it will – it will throw up an enormous market for digital cable hardware. In addition, manufactures of cable television equipment are equipped to manufacture DTH products since they are technically similar.

    To address these above business opportunities Catvision has set up a manufacturing facility at Dehra Dun in Uttar Pradesh for digital cable and DTH products and to expand its marketing operations in ITV and CCTV.

    The company has also forayed into security systems, starting with high-end digital CCTV systems targeted at premium hotels and shopping malls, which is driven by the heightened security risk perceived by public institutions from terrorist threat.

    The ITV division installs, operates and maintains cable satellite television and interactive television systems. Major customers are premium hotels in India and the Middle East (where the company operates through distributors).

    US based KoolConnect Technologies, a supplier for in-room entertainment solutions recently picked up a small stake in Catvision through a preferential allotment.

    The tie-up will enable Catvision to offer services like Video On Demand entertainment and information systems, high-speed internet access, virtual concierge services, which has become standard in premium hotels the world over. Interestingly, the company has secured a contract with the Hyatt group of hotels to provide multimedia interactive products and services.
    The company has also joined hands with a UK based firm Dedicated Micros, worldwide provider for CCTV surveillance applications and will be offering their systems in India. With this tie-up, the company believes it can address another emerging segment — shopping malls, which also have concerns of security.

  • Meetings with broadcasters, agencies for great cricket auction begin; ICC cash registers set to ring

    Meetings with broadcasters, agencies for great cricket auction begin; ICC cash registers set to ring

    The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Tuesday began meetings with broadcasters and agencies in Dubai, marking the latest stage of its sale of media and sponsorship rights for ICC events from late 2007 to 2015.

    The ICC’s team of negotiators include former President Ehsan Mani, who played a key role in securing the current agreement with the News Corp owned Global Cricket Corporation (GCC) through News International Limited.

    That agreement, which began in 2000 and ends with the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 in the West Indies next March and April, includes two ICC Cricket World Cups and three ICC Champions Trophy tournaments. The GCC had paid out $550 million to secure the rights after a fierce bidding war with Subhash Chandra’s Zee Telefilms. At the time of bidding the GCC was a 50:50 JV between News Corp and World Sport Nimbus (itself a 50:50 JV between Harish Thawani’s Nimbus and the UK-headquartered World Sport Group). News Corp subsequently bought out WSN’s stake in the JV.

    The first question that comes to mind of course is what are the numbers that will be thrown up in this round of bidding? Before doing that, it is worth examining how much more in terms of events are available for purchase. The number of World Cups (two) remain the same. The “Extraa Innings” are a possible one Champions Trophy (there were three in the previous package while this one has at least three and maybe four tourneys), two 20/20 World Championships and two Women’s Cricket World Cups in 2009 (Australia) and 2013 (India).

    Additionally, there are also the Cricket World Cup qualifiers and four ICC U/19 Cricket World Cups included in the eight-year timeframe.

    All told, there are a total of 18 ICC tournaments, the big ones being the two World Cups, in Asia (2011) and Australia / New Zealand (2015) respectively, and a minimum of three (possibly four) Champions Trophy tournaments.

    That is as far as the events themselves are concerned. On the revenue front, there will be a huge difference on the subscription side because of direct-to-home (DTH) and the rollout of conditional access system (CAS), as well as increasing broadband penetration.

    Sony had factored in some inflows from DTH when it made its bid for the current property, but the delay in the launch of DTH services put paid to that. For Sony, income from its ICC properties has been advertisement-led (to the tune of 65-75 per cent) rather than subscription driven.

    It would be safe to assume that this would get directly reversed in terms of revenue break-up between advertising and subscriptions by the time the next World Cup comes around in 2011. Subscription revenue will come in principally from digital cable (all cable-penetrated areas should be CAS-delivered by then) and DTH. Broadband will also offer significant revenue opportunities by then.

    Now, coming to the bidding. Even if the number of events were the same, and looking at the valuations that would have been obtained back in 2000, this would have been a higher value proposition because one of them is being held in India and the other has a clear time zone advantage for Indians (Australia / New Zealand as opposed to 2007’s edition in the West Indies). So if we were to look at a like to like comparison, the base value in 2000 would have at the very least been the $ 650 million that Zee had bid then for the same rights.

    The value of this property is essentially linked to what is the bid that the India part of it was worth. Sony paid $ 208 million for the C&S rights and the terrestrial rights that national broadcaster Doordarshan took would be another $ 47 million tallying up to $ 255 million. To find the base value of the India part of the rights using the above formula would imply a 25 per cent mark up or $ 320 million as being what they were worth then.

    What are the toppings to that? One Champions Trophy (if four are held) and two 20/20 events. Let’s say $ 400 million is what this would have been worth to Sony in 2000. Today we believe it will go for around $ 1.2 billion. Assuming that the India part will take up around 70 per cent of the total value of the ICC rights, we’re looking at bidding anywhere between $ 1.7 to $ 2 billion as being the range in which the punts will be made.

    Who has that kind of money? Star, Sony, Zee and maybe Anil Ambani’s ADAG if it decides to throw its hat in the ring. One player that is almost certain not to be in this particular game is Harish Thawani’s Nimbus. He has been taken out of the equation by the News Corp distribution deal. So could it end up being a fight between Sony-Ten Sports, News Corp-Nimbus and Zee Sports if Reliance doesn’t enter the fray? Quite possible.

    And if we were the betting sort our gut punt would be on Sony again walking away with this one. It is the more hungry and needs it more than News Corp. And being the incumbent will give it a clear advantage over an at least as hungry Zee.

  • Growth of DTH in Asia Pacific likely to boost future consumer satellite services

    Growth of DTH in Asia Pacific likely to boost future consumer satellite services

    MUMBAI: The Asia Pacific region offers the strongest growth potential and opportunities in the next five years for Direct-to-Home (DTH) service providers, particularly multisystem operators (MSO).

    DTH video is the flagship service to establish a foothold in previously underserved emerging markets. By achieving economies of scale and providing quality local content, service providers can capture a huge and profitable consumer base.

    New analysis from global growth consulting company Frost & Sullivan, Asia Pacific Satellite DTH Market reveals that the total pay-TV market — covering nine Asia-Pacific countries — was worth $19.24 billion in 2005, and is forecasted to reach $45.20 billion in 2012. Satellite DTH services alone will account for approximately 46.3 per cent, or $20.91 billion, of the total pay-TV revenues in 2012.

    Frost & Sullivan research analyst James Lye says, “The reality of the next decade for DTH service providers is convergence. To create new revenue streams, providers need to shift beyond individual technology and service platforms towards an MSO model, reaching consumers through any efficient medium.”

    Consumers are increasingly looking to a single provider for integrated solutions — offering voice, data and video services. The Asia-Pac region offers unique opportunities as newly emergent communities demand telecommunication services in vast unwired areas. By using video content as the flagship offering, DTH providers can gain a strong position in the market and uncover ways of tapping into the lucrative voice and data demand.

    A DTH provider needs to achieve economies of scale, resulting in lower operating costs, breaking key price barriers for consumer adoption, as well as granting easy access to premium content. However, establishing a region-wide service can be hindered by stringent regulations prevalent in many Asia-Pac countries.

    “The lack of local language content often limits the potential customer base. Premium content will drive initial growth, but content relevant to the local or regional scene will sustain interest and customer loyalty” adds Lye.

    In the highly fragmented Asia Pacific market, it is important to provide not only premium global content, but also superior quality local programs to differentiate the service offerings from other available ones. The key to capturing the regional market is specialised content, inclusive of local sports, news and entertainment, which requires local production capabilities.

  • Star to distribute Nimbus’ sports channels

    Star to distribute Nimbus’ sports channels

    MUMBAI: Nimbus Sports Broadcast, the Nimbus Communications subsidiary operating its sports broadcasting business, has entered into a deal with Star India wherein the News Corp network will be distributing its soon to launch bouquet of Neo Sports channels.

    The Star-Nimbus distribution deal is a five-year one that runs till 2010 and will apply to the two sports channels that will be launching by the end of the year as well as any future sports channels from the Neo Sports stable.

    Both companies also issued categorical denials of a report that appeared in pink paper Economic Times today that News Corp. would be buying roughly a third of Nimbus for around Rs 4 billion ($86 million).

    The release stated that Nimbus “is currently not engaged in any dialogue for inducting any new investors, whether financial or strategic.”

    Speaking to Indiantelevision.com, Star Entertainment India CEO Sameer Nair was equally categorical that there were no discussions on issues of equity. “This is a specific to India distribution deal, underpinned by cable and of course looking to leverage the potential that DTH offers.” Nair said. The Neo Sports channels will be distributed on the Tata-Sky DTH network in which Star has a 20 per cent stake.

    The first of the channels, the cricket centric Neo Sports, is set to be launched within the next three months. This will be followed by Neo Sports Plus, a sports entertainment channel, which is expected to be launched by the end of the year, states a joint statement issued by the two companies.

    With nearly 200 days of cricket every year lined up on Neo Sports, of which over 100 days will be live India cricket including all BCCI events and between 3-4 international series every year; Neo Sports expects to reach a majority of the cable & satellite homes.

    Nimbus paid $612 million for the telecast rights to the Indian cricket board’s matches for 2006-10.

  • DTH: Trai supports interoperability, MDU tech

    DTH: Trai supports interoperability, MDU tech

    NEW DELHI: Keeping up its busy schedule on industry related issues, India’s broadcast regulator came out with suggestions on DTH regulations today. The regulator has pitched for mandatory interoperability for DTH services and has okayed multi- dwelling unit (MDU) technology with certain riders in consumer interest.

    Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) today said that the new set of recommendations provide for “clarifications to certain provisions of the (DTH) licensing conditions” and guidelines to be followed in the adoption of MDU technology, which is basically perceived to be in consumer interest.

    According to Trai, the suggested guidelines relating to DTH will ensure that “interests of the consumers,” cable operators and other DTH players are protected.

    Some of the major DTH recommendations are as follows:

    # Personal Video Recorders and Interoperability: There should not be any amendment in Articles 7.1 and 7.2 of the DTH license agreement, which mandate technical interoperability among DTH service providers.

    # The license conditions should be amended to provide for casting an obligation on the service provider to inform and educate the consumers about the limited technical interoperability of the Set Top Boxes with Personal Video Recorders/Digital Video Recorders.

    # Uplinking and Platform Services: The guidelines for uplinking from India should be amended to exclude DTH platform services aimed at enabling the subscribers to utilize the platform efficiently and informing them of platform functionality and services.

    # MDU technology: The DTH license conditions should be amended to specifically permit use of MDU technology subject to the following conditions:
    a. The DTH service provider should not insist on any exclusive arrangement for installation of MDU technology to the detriment of other distributors of TV channels.
    b. Signals from the MDU technology shall not be provided to a consumer outside the multi-dwelling unit building, where the MDU technology is installed.
    c. The MDU technology should not carry the content from any other service provider other than the DTH service provider and
    d. The DTH operator shall obtain written consent from those subscribers living in a multiple dwelling unit who are desirous of availing the facility of MDU technology, before installing the same. A general permission obtained from office bearers of the Residents Welfare Association/group housing society will not be considered sufficient.

    The government had sought Trai’s views regarding certain issues relating to the licensing provisions of DTH. A full text of Trai’s suggestions could be accessed at www.trai.gov.in.

  • Disappearance of Arab channels as no permission sought: Indian govt

    Disappearance of Arab channels as no permission sought: Indian govt

    NEW DELHI: The Indian government today clarified that no channel has been banned, especially Arab TV channels.

    Disappearance of Arab TV channels from Indian cable networks has got more to do with them not conforming to new media norms like getting landing rights from New Delhi, the government stated today officially.

    “(The) government reiterates that Arab TV channels like Al-Jazeera, Al-Arabia (and) Q TV have not yet applied to be downlinked in India till date. Hence they cannot be transmitted/re-transmitted through cable networks/DTH in India, for public viewing,” information and broadcasting minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi said in a statement today.

    The information and broadcasting ministry statement added, “Arab channels are still free to apply afresh for registration under the downlinking guidelines, if they so desire and they will have similar opportunities like others.”

    Dasmunsi said in Lok Sabha (Lower House of Parliament) today, “In order to strengthen the mechanism of regulation over the content of television channels, which are being transmitted/re-transmitted through cable networks/DTH in India, for public viewing, the government has notified downlinking guidelines on 11 November, 2005.

    “All private TV channels, which are beamed into India and are being transmitted/re-transmitted through cable networks/DTH in India for public viewing, have to get themselves registered under the said guidelines. To facilitate smooth implementation, six months time (up to 10 May, 2006) was provided to all TV channels to comply with the provisions of the downlinking guidelines and get themselves registered.”

    The government has allowed TV channels, which were uplinked from abroad and had made an application for registration to the federal government up to 11 May, 2006, to be re-transmitted in India for a period of six months or till the time registration has been granted or refused, Dasmunsi said.

    Private TV channels, which were uplinking from India, in accordance with the permission for uplinking granted before 2 December, 2005, were treated as “registered” television channels under the downlinking guidelines, the government said today.

    The government also clarified that no Arab TV channels have been banned, as reported in a section of the media, under pressure from Israel.

    “The government of India denies this vehemently as it is contrary to facts. No channel in particular has been `banned’ recently by the ministry of information and broadcasting. This is a malicious and baseless accusation against the government by interested quarters,” Dasmunsi said.

    Under the downlinking norms, 65 TV channels, uplinked from abroad, have applied for landing rights.

    In a bylined report from Mumbai a correspondent of Arab News blared: “In a country widely referred to as the world’s largest democracy, the Indian government has succumbed to mounting Israeli pressure and ordered a nationwide ban on the broadcast of Arab television channels.”

    The report further added that New Delhi’s ban on Arab television stations “is in complete contrast to the friendship that Arab countries imagine exists with their neighbor across the Arabian Sea.”

    It seems the ban is a move to ensure that Indians do not get to see the atrocities that are presently being committed by Israel in Lebanon and the occupied territories, the report said.

    The lopsided report quoted one Nabila Al-Bassam, a Saudi businesswoman on a trip to Mumbai, as saying she became exasperated at not being able to watch Arab channels at Mumbai’s leading five-star Oberoi Hotel. When she took up the issue with the hotel manager, she was told that Arab television channels had been banned across India.

    What the hotel management and many like them did not know was that the so-called disappearance of Arab TV channels like Al Arabiya was because those TV channels had failed to apply for landing rights in India.

  • EM2 seminar: Indian content producers need to look closer at digital delivery

    EM2 seminar: Indian content producers need to look closer at digital delivery

    MUMBAI: The third annual Entertainment, Media and Marketing (em2) forum organised by the Film and Television Producers Guild of India (FTPGI) was held in Mumbai today. One of the sessions looked at digital entertainment.

    Among the panelists were Tata Sky MD Vikram Kaushik, Microsoft India head gaming Mohit Anand and Indiantelevision.com founder and CEO Anil Wanvari.

    Wanvari pointed to the internet as becoming increasingly important for Hollywood as an additional revenue source. Indian content producers should look more closely at their internet strategies and take a leaf from their counterparts in the West, Wanvari noted. He gave several examples. For instance Fox has started offering films and television shows for download through on its websites Direct2dirive.com, Myspace.com and other Fox Interactive Websites. The playing is limited to to two computers, and a portable play device. Viacom earlier this month stitched together a deal wherein its video clips along with commercials will be served through Google’s Ad sense network.

    It had also announced it would pay $200 million acquire online gaming and entertainment company Atom Entertainment, which boasts two online video sites, AtomFilms.com and AddictingClips.com, and two casual gaming sites, Shockwave.com and AddictingGames.com.Viacom retails videos on Google. AOL has unveiled a video site. Some videos are offered for free while others one pays for.

    Apple’s online music store iTunes earned a billion dollars last year. It has now inked deals with several US broadcasters for paid download of shows.

    In the UK Eros International has a deal with MovieFlix. Films that are offered for download offer possibilities for schemes like games, contests and alternative endings. Moreover the potential on the net extends to television channels as well Wanvari noted. JumpTV which has been aggregating TV channels from all over the world to offer to its subscribers in America. Today it has 200 channels on its network, and the most recent signees being Punjab Today, SET Asia, and Balle Balle.

    It is early days in this business as yet. The studios are generating anywhere between $1.99 to $3.99 for a TV show to $9.99 to $19.99 for a movie. Or they have a fixed monthly subscription fee of $6.95 a month. The revenues are running into a few millions.

    Wanvari adds, “Numbers are minuscule but technological change and a hungry for broadband content audience is pushing the pace. There were an estimated 194 million broadband households in 2005; this expected to more than double to 413 million worldwide by 2010, according to Instat research. Of this, 130 million will be accessing video content.

    “In India, broadband penetration is minuscule: just 1.5-1.9 million, but this is going to balloon to 8 million plus by end 2010, according to Media Partners Asia, Hongkong numbers. Even if 10 per cent of this resorts to broadband video we are talking about a good 800,000 subscribers.

    “These will be high net worth individuals who even if they buy 12 movies online every year at a cost of Rs 75 a movie or Rs 50 a TV episode, could end up generating Rs 125-150 crore in revenue. And if one looks at overseas sales: the figure can easily surpass Rs 150-200 crores per annum. It is probably this that has prompted Eros to partner with MovieFlix.com.”

    Kaushik pointed out the benefits of pay TV addressable service like DTH. Film producers he noted can use this as an additional revenue stream. Abroad within days of a films theatrical release it is made available on pay TV. This will also help curb piracy. There is a clear accountable mechanism in place in a DTH environment.

    He noted that last year 10 million TV sets were sold in India. 75 per cent of these were colour television sets. He noted that in the current cable set up consumers suffer from poor service, not enough special interest channels and no choice in the service provider. Broadcasters suffer due to leakages on the distribution front. The government suffers as it does not get tax revenue.

    Pay TV services like DTH will eliminate these problems. He added that the cable industry will not be hit in a major way by new technologies coming in. In the Tata Sky set up consumers get a 24 hour service. The set top box can be moved from one place to another. Also DTH can reach rural India which has been left out of the cable revolution. He added that since
    1991 when the government allowed cable and satellite television there has been no significant change in terms of the mode of delivery.

    Anand stressed the relationship between films and gaming. He noted that the global gaming business is worth over 24 billion dollars. It makes more money than Hollywood films. He gave an example of the film Pirates of the Carribean which made $136 million in its opening weekend. Microsoft released the game Halo 2 a couple of years ago, which made $125 million on its opening night.

    Microsoft’s Xbox 360 he says represents the start of the seventh generation of gaming. Sony and Nintendo will do something similar later this year. One main reason why he is optimistic about gaming in India is that India has a large population below the age of 18. They are equally if not more technologically savvy than previous generations.

    Things have come full circle as far as films and gaming are concerned. Earlier companies would develop a game on a film if the film became a blockbuster. Today films like Resident Evil are based on video games.

    He noted that in the future one could see film studios alter scripts to make them more game friendly. In fact a lot of studios have people on the look out for ventures that can be adapted into both films and games. In India so far film studios use games as a marketing gimmick. That is not the way forward if Indian film companies want to mine this source of revenue. Some games take three years to develop but if one thinks of the game along with the film the process will be easier. In fact one then has the opportunity to shoot for the game while one is shooting the film.

  • ADAG-Reliance to focus on movie, radio operations; work on DTH goes `slow’

    ADAG-Reliance to focus on movie, radio operations; work on DTH goes `slow’

    MUMBAI: Anil Ambani’s Reliance group has decided to concentrate on movie and FM radio businesses in the media and entertainment sector for the time being instead of DTH television service.

    A top source in the group admitted that plans to start a DTH service in the country are going “slow”.

    Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG) had applied for a DTH licence under the brand name Reliance Bluemagic, which is yet to get all governmental clearances.

    A recent failure of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to put a new generation communication satellite in orbit could also have some bearing on Ambani’s go-slow approach as far as DTH is concerned, a media industry analyst opined.

    ISRO’s recent failure has also put a question mark in the short term over Sun TV group’s plans to start a DTH service in the absence of transponder space on India satellites, which is a pre-requisite government norm.

    Sources in the Ambani-controlled ADAG also confirmed that present focus is on movie and radio business where scales of operation need to be ramped up considerably.

    Anil has controlling holding in Adlabs Films, which was started by film industry veteran Manmohan Shetty who still looks after the business.

    In recent times, Adlabs has signed up with several successful directors like Ram Gopal Verma and Kunal Kohli for a string of film productions over the next 24 months.

    Acquisition of some existing production houses could have been an easy way out for Adlabs to increase scale of operations, but existing big production houses are not in sale mode at present, media analysts observe.

    According to industry sources, Adlabs is looking at co-productions of films, bagging overseas distribution rights for big ticket Hindi movies, Indo-foreign country co-productions and ramping up the number of multiplex within the Adlabs fold so in future digital distribution of films could add some jazz to the business.

    Meanwhile, Reliance Radio, helmed by former Sony India honcho Tarun Katial, has started fine-tuning its operations for a flag off.

    Sources said that over the next 45-60 days a spate of private radio FM stations, which got licence in the second phase early this year, are likely to start operations. This would include Reliance’s stations too.